By Zephyria Article/News | [Exclusive] Ji Hyeon to Make a Surprise Appearance on ‘My Manager and Me’… “A First Since Debut”
Anonymous https:https://www.todayspring.com/jihyeon/2394279412
(Ji Hyeon standing at a photo wall in a suit.jpg)
[▲Photo=Hot Star News]
Actor Ji Hyeon will appear on MBS’s ‘My Manager and Me.’
According to our findings on April 9th, Ji Hyeon has confirmed his appearance on ‘My Manager and Me (hereafter My MaeSo)’ and is currently preparing for filming. Ji Hyeon recently entered a hiatus after the conclusion of ‘At the End of That Memory,’ which aired on MBS, and is expected to show various human sides of himself on ‘My MaeSo.’
According to a ‘My MaeSo’ staff member, Ji Hyeon revealed in a prior interview that he maintains a close relationship with his manager. The chemistry with his manager, who has been a steadfast pillar of support for the past seven years, is highly anticipated. His daily life, which has never been revealed since his debut, is already drawing attention.
Meanwhile, Ji Hyeon, who debuted as a child model at the age of 4, has been active for 25 years across TV and the silver screen. He has appeared in dramas such as ‘Over the Line!,’ ‘Heavy Rain,’ and ‘The End of Emotion,’ as well as films like ‘Night of No Trace,’ ‘Fucking, Rude,’ and ‘Phantasm,’ establishing himself as a full-fledged top actor with a solid fanbase. This unconventional variety show appearance is expected to appease fans who were disappointed by his hiatus.
The broadcast date for Ji Hyeon’s appearance on ‘My MaeSo’ is still undecided.
/Reporter Son Hana (One_hand@hotstar.co.kr)
Source: [Hot Star News | https:https://www.hotstar.co.kr/view/1415098]
408 Comments
1 ffs finally
└ let’s gooo
└ let’s gooo22
└ 333
└ 4444
└ 5555
2 omg ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ji Hyeon ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
3 Crazy… Ji Hyeon?
4 Ji Hyeon??? That Ji Hyeon???
5 Wow, so a day like this has come
6 What? It’s airing in May? That’s a month away ㅎㅎ I’ll just take a nap and wake up and it’ll be here ㅎㅎ
└ Where does it say it’s airing in May??/ The article says it’s undecided…ㅠㅠ
└ Can’t you read the room?
7 Ah, I’m so freaking excited, I’ve been waiting for this day lol The TV in our house is mine that day, sry not sry
8 Huh? Why a variety show all of a sudden?? Didn’t Actor Ji say he doesn’t do variety shows?
└ Nah, he never said that. People just assumed he doesn’t do them since he never appeared on any.
└ But if he hasn’t appeared on one for 25 years since his debut, of course people would think that lolololol
└ fr, it is a bit sudden
└ Who cares, we just have to watch it ㅇㅇ
└ That’s true
9 Wow, Ji Hyeon????
10 But isn’t it too hard to film a variety show while he’s on a break ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m worriedㅠㅠㅠ
└ I know…
└ 222 I’d rather he get a good rest and come back with a better project ㅠ
└ It’s not like he’s not doing other projects just because he’s filming a variety show, I think this is an overreaction
└ (This comment has been deleted.)
└ Huh, I don’t think commenter 10 meant it like that?
└ lololol what’s this again
└ Don’t stir the pot and just delete your comment;;;
└ Ah sorry, I misread. Deleted.
└ ????? I just posted it because I was worried ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ He must be tired already, so I was worried it would be hard for him to film a variety show…
11 My MaeSo? Why My MaeSo and not Living Alone?
└ Actor Ji is good in anything
└ lolololol seriously, why My MaeSo?
└ Because he’s on good terms with his manager?
└ Does Ji Hyeon even live alone?
└ Yeah, he said he’s lived alone since he was young
└ Ji Hyeon on good terms with someone… c-can’t imagine it
└ To think our baby has someone he’s on good terms with
└ To think our precious little one has a friend
└ Ah, is Ji Hyeon really that bad? lolololololol
└ I’ve been a fan of Actor Ji for a super long time and I’ve never once heard him say he’s close with anyone;
└ Isn’t it just because he doesn’t reveal his private life?
└ Back then, when he was asked who he was closest to in the entertainment industry, he hesitated and said it was the President. He really has no friendsㅠ
└ lolololololol having no friends is one thing, but saying he’s close with the President is hilarious af lololol
12 lolololololol meanwhile the reporter’s email lolololololol
└ ah fck I just saw it lolololololololololololololololololololololol
└ The Hot News reporters’ emails are hilarious lolololololol
└ lolololololol one_hand lolololol
13 ‘expected to show various human sides of himself’ Human sides? Ji Hyeon with a puffy face after waking up? Ji Hyeon in sweatpants with baggy knees? That? Kind? Of? Thing? Can? We? See? It?
└ What are you talking about, why would a CG character’s face get puffy?
└ They’ll probably CG the puffy face too
└ The possibility of him showing his human side at 29 when he didn’t even show it at 4?
└ Zero
14 Reading this article makes me realize again, 25 years since debut is truly unrivaled… 25 years in his twenties… What was I doing when I was four?
└ Dancing in a strawberry outfit at daycare
└ You had the talent of an idol
└ I drew a map on my blanket
└ Why did you do that
└ Why don’t you say I have talent?
└ The talent of a historian
└ Isn’t it a geographer?
└ Are you nuts lol
15 I’m curious who the manager is… A guy, right?
└ Of course a guy
└ It’s a guy
└ I’ve seen him before, he’s a really tall guy
└ What does he look like??? Is he handsome??
└ This is a bit much. He’s a non-celebrity, why ask about his looks lol I think the original commenter would be in an awkward position if you ask like that…
└ Oh ㅠㅠ I’m sorry, I didn’t think of that
└ Don’t fight~ It’s fine, I couldn’t see his face properly anyway because he was wearing a hat lol
16 ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I was so sad after The End of That Memory ended ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ A variety show? I’m all for it
└ fr ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ The fact that he’s appearing on something is so great…
└ Right ㅠㅠㅠ I’ve rewatched The End of That Memory so many times I’m at the point of memorizing the lines ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ I’m confident I could enjoy it even if they just showed Ji Hyeon’s face for an hour ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ
17 Omg Ji Hyeon… he’s here to tighten the discipline on the slacking My MaeSo
└ The great actor is here to instill some vigilance lol
└ But it’s hilarious that there’s no one on that panel who’s been active longer than Ji Hyeon
18 This is crazy, I’m so excited lololol I’m going to pray with a bowl of water starting today for it to come out quickly
19 Hmm lol I’m not a big fan of him appearing on a variety show.. Actor Ji has a certain image, it just doesn’t seem to fit
└ 22
└ Me too 333… Honestly, I’m more worried than anything
└ 444 and the timing is so random
└ (This comment has been blinded.)
└ lolololololol??? Asking if he’s out of money just because he’s filming one variety show
└ Do you know how much Ji Hyeon is worth lolol
└ Don’t get dragged into it, just ignore them ㅠ
└ Who cares, it’s his decision to film it;
20 Meanwhile, his proportions in the article photo are insane…
└ fr, he’s almost 9 heads tall
└ Seriously… isn’t his leg length crazy?
└ They said Ji Hyeon’s legs are over a meter long
└ What do you mean 1m, like 110cm???
└ If we stood side by side, his legs would probably reach my waist…
└ Is his face small or are his shoulders broad?
└ Both
└ His face is small and his shoulders are broad ㅇㅇ
└ His big hands are killing me ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
21 Omg, if it’s My MaeSo, will they show his house?? I heard Ji Hyeon’s house is super nice
└ Don’t they not?? Living Alone shows the house, but I think My MaeSo usually films outside
└ No, they show it on My MaeSo too
└ They probably will. He’s not active right now anyway, so his house is probably the only thing they can film?
└ I hope they show it, I’m so curious about what kind of house he lives in
22 Manager for 7 years, wow, that’s a long time
└ I know, right? Other actors change managers like an annual event, he must treat him well
└ lol… the fact that even Ji Hyeon’s managers changed all the time 7 years ago…
└ Omg why???
└ Who knows… His managers kept changing when he was younger, then the agency’s president acted as his manager for a while. I know he settled with the current manager after that ㅇㅇ
└ But that can just happen lololol It’s not something to judge whether he was treated well or not
23 The projects mentioned in the article are all seriously famous works. I guess Ji Hyeon really is a guaranteed box office hit. I don’t even watch much TV/movies but I know all of them;;
└ Of course. It can’t fail if Ji Hyeon is in it.
└ The fact that this is just a small fraction of the works he’s made successful lolololol
└ Now you have to add O-Com and Alt to that list to complete it
24 ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m glad his first variety show is My MaeSo… There are so many rude variety shows these days, but that probably won’t happen with My MaeSo, right?
└ Ah… lolol this is it. If I imagine this was Neighborhood Hyungs instead of My MaeSo, I’m already stressed af
└ lolol the panelists there would’ve just crossed their arms and asked him if he has a girlfriend fifteen times lol
└ Hyeon-ah, be really honest, sol~idly honest, just between us! A girlfriend… you have one, or you don’t? Eheeey, there you go lying again~ You’re not at an age to hide things like that~
└ fck I can hear it in my head and it’s annoying
└ I like PD Yoo Hye-sun’s variety shows because there are no uncomfortable parts hehe
└ 222 and the editing is hilarious
25 Why is the schedule undecided ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ I know right ㅠㅠㅠ At least tell us the month
·
·
·
188 An article came out saying they filmed My MaeSo today!! https:https://www.hotstar.co.kr/view/1416274
* * *
As soon as the news of Ji Hyeon’s appearance on ‘My MaeSo’ broke, the entire online community was in an uproar. The reaction on Ji Hyeon’s fan forums was particularly heated, with a mix of responses welcoming and disapproving of his variety show debut. As it was his first-ever variety show appearance since his debut, the high level of attention was only natural.
Unlike Ji Hyeon, who had long since tuned out the internet, Eun-ho examined all the reactions, compiled the necessary parts, and stored them in his head. While thinking about what side of Ji Hyeon to show on broadcast, how to treat Ji Hyeon, and things like that.
Striving to ensure the celebrity he was in charge of received a good evaluation from the public—that, too, was one of the duties a manager had to fulfill.
“We’re going to install a camera here, so you can just drive like you normally do. Our car will be following from behind, but you don’t have to pay it any mind.”
It was the day of the much-anticipated ‘My MaeSo’ shoot. Eun-ho woke up at his usual time and met up with the film crew at the designated location. The crew installed cameras in the van Eun-ho had brought from the agency and, through an assistant director, gave him a rough outline of the day’s shoot.
“Don’t be too nervous, just act comfortably. If you make any mistakes, we’ll edit them out on our end, so you don’t need to worry about that either.”
Misinterpreting Eun-ho’s expressionless face, the assistant director tried to ease his tension with a consistently gentle tone. Eun-ho himself wasn’t particularly nervous or trembling, but he just nodded silently. He may not have appeared on a broadcast himself, but he had been through the filming process countless times.
“Do you have any other questions?”
“No, I’m fine.”
As he answered while adjusting his cap, the assistant director gestured toward the props team. A team member who looked like the youngest of the crew scurried over, holding a small object. The item he held out was a black mask, the kind Ji Hyeon often wore when going out.
“Please wear this, and then take it off when you arrive at the actor’s house.”
“……The mask?”
He wasn’t a celebrity who needed to cover his face like Ji Hyeon, and even if he were, this was a shoot where he was supposed to show his face. He didn’t have a cold, nor was there a contagious disease going around, so was there really a need to wear a mask?
“Yes, we’re going to keep the manager’s face hidden at first and then reveal it later. Since you’re so good-looking, we figured it would have a bigger impact that way. The PD gave the order herself.”
The assistant director scrutinized Eun-ho from head to toe, nodding to himself in satisfaction. He occasionally mentioned that sometimes the classics worked, asking if he knew the “cliché of becoming handsome when you take off your glasses.” At that expectant look, Eun-ho reluctantly accepted the mask.
“Then please wait in the car for a moment.”
After the conversation, Eun-ho put on the mask and got into the car. With a black hat, black mask, and even black clothes, he looked like a petty thief. Eun-ho glanced at the camera light that was on, checked the time, and then fastened his seatbelt.
‘I should have slept a bit…’
Just as Eun-ho had met with the filming crew early in the morning, the crew, including PD Yoo, must have already visited Ji Hyeon’s house. They probably installed cameras all over the house and gathered in a corner of the living room, waiting. The already sensitive guy couldn’t possibly sleep in an environment full of strangers.
‘They’re filming at Actor Ji’s house?’
When negotiating the filming process in more detail after the preliminary interview, one expected obstacle remained before them. That was the extremely limited filming locations for Ji Hyeon, who was on hiatus. Thus, the place that was nominated was Ji Hyeon’s house, not a broadcasting station or a set.
‘If it’s that, I have other ideas…’
Eun-ho, who had anticipated this situation, had prepared several countermeasures to propose to CEO Byun. For example, renting a pension and saying they went on a trip, or choosing one of Ji Hyeon’s unused homes and pretending it was his real house.
However, what he didn’t expect was that Ji Hyeon nodded more readily than he thought.
‘Tell them to do that.’
‘…What?’
When Eun-ho turned around in surprise, Ji Hyeon was leaning back on the sofa, legs crossed, looking relaxed. The place was clearly CEO Byun’s office, but he was in a haughty posture as if he were the CEO. Ji Hyeon casually turned his gaze and raised the corner of his lips, asking softly.
‘Why, did you think I’d agree and then be picky?’
The guy who had been picky all along was being utterly shameless. Even when they signed the contract before, he had threatened that if they brought him such terrible broadcasts one more time, there would be no renewal. When CEO Byun finally lost his temper, he said, “You’re getting old, you need to manage your blood pressure,” turning him inside out once more.
‘They have to take off their shoes before coming in, and they have to clear out immediately after one day. If they touch anything in the house, the filming is off, so keep that in mind.’
The conditions that followed were much less significant than he had expected. Since it was a site managed by PD Yoo, nothing would happen that would greatly upset Ji Hyeon. Ji Hyeon, who had requested that a cleaning company be called after the filming, drove the final wedge into CEO Byun, who was nodding unconditionally.
‘And Kwak Eun-ho’s house will not be revealed.’
Well, it didn’t matter. No, it was a good thing. Eun-ho was going to say that anyway. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to open up his personal space, but because he anticipated the public’s reaction after revealing his old villa. They would say things like, Ji Hyeon lives in a nice house, so why is his Manager like that? It was obvious that there would be a lot of unnecessary speculation.
“…….”
While he was lost in thought, the assistant director signaled from the front of the car. Eun-ho started the car and clapped his hands in front of the camera with a sharp sound. It was something he had been asked to do in advance as a substitute for a slate.
Behind the slowly departing van, a car with the MBS mark followed. Eun-ho tried not to be conscious of the camera and turned the steering wheel smoothly. It was about 15 minutes to Ji Hyeon’s house. The real filming was about to begin.
In fact, after the broadcast, the number of people who wanted to become Managers increased significantly. There were critical voices saying that it was all scripted, but even that minimal script was created through preliminary interviews. The reason why the Managers’ attitudes were awkward was simply because they were not used to the filming environment.
‘In the first place, complete reality is impossible in this environment.’
After arriving at Ji Hyeon’s house, Eun-ho parked the car in the underground parking lot and headed to the elevator. The cameraman followed Eun-ho closely, and another camera was already installed inside the entrance where Eun-ho had to enter. He was worried that he might forget that he was filming and make a mistake, but it was even more difficult not to be conscious of it.
‘What an amazing guy.’
It was said that all celebrities were like that, but Eun-ho sometimes respected Ji Hyeon. He was so sensitive to the eyes of others, but he could smile so nonchalantly in front of the camera. Even when his mood was sharply on edge, once he passed through the lens, there was no sign of it at all.
Ding, the elevator arrived at the top floor. Eun-ho, who came out slowly, headed to Ji Hyeon’s front door as if he was used to it. After blocking the camera with his body and entering the password, he heard the sound of the lock being released.
“…….”
Beyond the open door, there was, as expected, a camera. He had been to countless filming sites, but it was his first time being filmed directly. It wasn’t a very pleasant feeling, so Eun-ho awkwardly touched the back of his neck while wearing the light pink slippers with a bear on them.
‘He’s not in the living room…’
As expected, Ji Hyeon wasn’t on the living room sofa. Only PD Yoo and the cameramen were sitting cross-legged in front of the TV. Ji Hyeon was probably lying in the bedroom, pretending to sleep. Eun-ho looked at the clean table without medicine bottles after a long time, and glanced around before taking off his mask.
“Um…….”
What should he do now? The guideline that the assistant director had given him was only up to this point. Arrive at Ji Hyeon’s house and take off the mask. And after that, just act naturally. There was nothing else written in the writer’s sketchbook.
‘Just do what you usually do.’
When he discussed the filming content with Ji Hyeon in advance, he only said that without any other instructions. He also said that if he was conscious of something and did something, it would all show, so he should act as naturally as possible.
So Eun-ho first took off his hat and washed his hands in the kitchen. He was going to make something simple to eat and then go up to the second floor to wake Ji Hyeon. It would probably be a boring and dull screen, but since he wasn’t an entertainer in the first place, there was no need to try to get screen time even in this part.
The morning menu was a simple dish of stir-fried tomatoes and eggs. Usually, he would have made soup, but he was sure that he would only nibble at it since he had stayed up all night. In that case, it was better to have a dish that wasn’t too heavy so that at least his stomach would be comfortable.
Eun-ho took out tomatoes, eggs, and green onions from the refrigerator and laid them out on the table. He awkwardly waited for a moment as the cameraman approached and filmed the ingredients. And just as he was about to start preparing the ingredients, he felt a presence from outside the kitchen.
“……?”
Surprisingly, it was Ji Hyeon. Ji Hyeon, whose bangs were slightly wet as if he had washed his face, came into the kitchen. When Eun-ho glanced at him, Ji Hyeon took out bottled water from the refrigerator and asked.
“What are you making?”
His attitude was very natural. He didn’t seem to care at all that as many as three cameras were filming them. Only Eun-ho replied in a slightly awkward and blunt voice.
“Stir-fried tomatoes and eggs.”
“Did we have cherry tomatoes in our house?”
“I bought them.”
There was no need for words like, Did you sleep well? Eun-ho knew better than anyone else that he hadn’t slept well. Ji Hyeon carelessly replied, “Ah,” and then drank the bottled water in one gulp before crushing the plastic bottle.
“Can I help you with anything?”
“……Um.”
Usually, he would have told him to go out because he was done, but it seemed like it would help Ji Hyeon’s image if they did it together. So Eun-ho cut the cherry tomatoes in half and gestured at the eggs.
“Then put the eggs in a bowl. Add just a little salt.”
Ji Hyeon turned around to find a bowl without saying a word. The problem was that he didn’t know where the kitchen utensils were at all, even though it was his own house. Eun-ho stopped him when he opened a random cabinet.
“The bowl’s not there.”
“…….”
“Not there, next to it.”
“…….”
“The salt is below that.”
“…….”
“That’s sugar.”
“…….”
“Just sit down.”
In the end, Ji Hyeon sat across from the table without being of any help. Even though it was a situation that would have embarrassed anyone else, he simply rested his chin on his hand without any change in expression. Ji Hyeon, who was quietly watching Eun-ho cutting, moved his lips softly.
“Honey.”
It was a casual call. Eun-ho didn’t even turn to look at him and replied.
“What.”
“Should I get a haircut today?”
Eun-ho glanced at Ji Hyeon’s hair. Since he had gone on hiatus after the last movie shoot, his fine hair had grown long enough to cover his neck. If it grew a little longer, he would probably tie it up in a ponytail with a yellow rubber band at home.
“It’s about time you cut it.”
Ji Hyeon, who hated having others touch him, usually didn’t go to the shop when he wasn’t filming. There was no need to manage it, and he also intended to grow it out in advance in case he didn’t know what kind of work he would be filming next. If he were to take on something like a historical drama, it would be easier to have long hair than short hair.
Fortunately, or perhaps not, the hair that would have made others look like homeless people suited Ji Hyeon very well.
“I’ll have to contact the General manager.”
Eun-ho thought of Ji Hyeon’s designer and organized his schedule in his head. Originally, he was going to go to the shop on the day of the preliminary interview, but Ji Hyeon’s condition had worsened and he had canceled the schedule. After that, he couldn’t find a good time and left it alone, but it would be good to go get a haircut.
“Just trim the back of his hair a little…”
But as Eun-ho was about to say that, he suddenly felt a subtle sense of discomfort and shut his mouth. Ji Hyeon, who was quietly staring at him, and the cameras filming them. He found something strange in the scenery that was no different from before.
“…….”
PD Yoo’s expression was strange. To be exact, so were the writer and assistant director sitting next to him. Their faces were blank, as if they had something they wanted to say.
“……That.”
Why, he couldn’t ask that, of course. Eun-ho swallowed the words that were slowly coming out, reminding himself that he was filming. Did he make a mistake? He thought so, but Ji Hyeon didn’t seem to care. He just picked up one of the cherry tomatoes that Eun-ho had cut and continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
“Let’s go out leisurely. Around one or two o’clock.”
“Well… whatever.”
At that calm attitude, Eun-ho also replied in a reluctant voice. If there was a problem, Ji Hyeon would have noticed it first, and since it was a recorded broadcast anyway, it didn’t matter if there was an NG in the middle. But the fact that he was staying still meant that it wasn’t a big deal.
“Stop eating.”
Eun-ho, who had tried to shake off the sense of discomfort, scolded Ji Hyeon, who was already picking up his second cherry tomato. Ji Hyeon shrugged and even put an uncut cherry tomato in Eun-ho’s mouth. It was inevitable for Eun-ho to reflexively accept it.
When the two people who had finished their meal were about to have coffee time, they were given a short break. The observation cameras were still running, but he knew that it wouldn’t be used on the broadcast. Eun-ho called the design General manager and received permission to film, and then listened to a brief explanation from PD Yoo about the filming that would take place in the afternoon.
“This time, just do what you did earlier. The two of you have such great chemistry…”
Whether the strange atmosphere he had felt earlier was a mistake or not, PD Yoo didn’t show any particular signs. He just said a light impression, “You two really seem to be on good terms.” His eyes sparkled when he said that, but Eun-ho tried not to think deeply about it and just nodded.
“Oh, and here, drink this comfortably while you’re moving.”
What PD Yoo handed him was a vitamin drink in a small plastic bottle. It’s PPL. Eun-ho, who easily recognized it, received two drinks. It was a product that the picky guy hated, saying it didn’t taste good, but unfortunately, he would have to drink at least one sip.
Preparing to go out didn’t take long. Eun-ho was already wearing his going-out clothes, so he didn’t need to change, and Ji Hyeon wasn’t the type to spend a lot of time thinking about what to wear. The preparation was complete with a soft knit and beige slacks, and finally, stealing Eun-ho’s hat.
“……What genre do you want to film next?”
On the way to the shop like that. Eun-ho, who had been driving as usual, looked at the camera installed inside and casually brought up the topic. He had forgotten that the staff wasn’t there, but he thought that as a broadcaster, he needed to have some kind of conversation.
Ji Hyeon, who had also been quiet, slowly opened his mouth with a faint hum.
“Not really… I just thought it would be fun to film something that uses my body since I’ve already filmed a romance once.”
“Like action?”
“Yeah, of course, I’d have to get in shape to film it.”
At the nonchalant answer, Eun-ho thought of Ji Hyeon’s body. Ji Hyeon, who didn’t stop exercising even when he was resting, had a solid body that wouldn’t be inferior no matter when or where he was exposed. When he came out wearing only a gown after showering, he couldn’t help but steal glances through the gaps in the gown’s collar.
“Your body is good now, so there’s no need to…”
“What you see with your eyes is different from what you see on TV.”
Of course, regardless of Eun-ho’s opinion, the image reflected on the screen was different. That’s why Ji Hyeon would be careful even with a glass of water and follow a tight exercise schedule right before going into a project. At that time, his already clear abs would become even more defined, as if they were about to split.
“……How about something like that instead? A legal drama.”
Eun-ho, who had tried to shake off his thoughts, changed the subject with a dry cough. Even if it was an inevitable part of his job, it felt pitiful that he couldn’t even eat the food he wanted. In that case, it might be better to take on a role that was relatively easy on his body.
“Legal drama?”
“I think you’d look good in a prosecutor’s uniform.”
Anything would suit that face, but Ji Hyeon especially looked good in such ascetic clothes. For example, a priest’s robe or the prosecutor’s uniform he mentioned earlier. Perhaps because he was tall and had long legs, the longer and more flowing the clothes, the better the synergy effect.
“You’ve been a lawyer, so try being a prosecutor once.”
The last words were a joke, but for some reason, Ji Hyeon didn’t respond at all. When he glanced in the rearview mirror, he saw him frowning and thinking about something. After staying like that for a while, Ji Hyeon muttered in a small voice, as if he were talking to himself.
“Should I, then…”
“…….”
It wasn’t a big reaction, but he felt strange for a moment. Just like when he heard him say that he would do it if he told him to. It wasn’t like Ji Hyeon was really going to take on the role of a prosecutor right away, and he was just replying lightly.
“Pick one for me when the script comes in later.”
Eun-ho didn’t answer clearly to Ji Hyeon’s words. He just made a sound that was neither affirmative nor negative, “Um, well…” He had always picked the script together, but cunningly, he always gave it meaning in times like this.
“You have a better eye for projects than the President.”
“The President is watching this broadcast too.”
“He needs to watch it a bit.”
Ji Hyeon’s unique sweet voice wrapped around his ears. He was saying it like a joke, but he knew that he was actually being serious. Even Eun-ho thought that CEO Byun’s eye for projects was terrible.
As they were having a trivial conversation, the car arrived at its destination. In the meantime, Eun-ho brought up various topics as naturally as possible so that there wouldn’t be silence in the car. Starting with the project, he even talked about the school lunches he had eaten in high school. Ji Hyeon, who had been replying with an expressionless face at first, sent an interesting gaze with his arms crossed from the middle.
“Kwak Eun-ho is working hard.”
After getting out of the car, Ji Hyeon approached and whispered in a voice that only Eun-ho could hear. When Eun-ho frowned, he smiled with his eyes and let out a faint laugh.
“You’re usually so quiet… Did you think of conversation topics in advance?”
In short, he realized why Eun-ho was talking so hard. Eun-ho awkwardly touched the back of his neck and slightly averted his gaze.
“It’s a broadcast. We can’t have dead air.”
“How sweet of you.”
He seemed to find something so amusing, his chuckling face looked happy. Not sarcastic, but as if he really meant it. I didn’t know what part he liked, but I was relieved that he seemed to be in a good mood.
‘His condition should be okay today.’
At least he won’t wash his hair five times, Eun-ho thought, smiling along with Ji Hyeon. The moment he made a soft, deflating sound, his expressionless face softened gently. Three cameras quietly followed the two of them.
The filming that started early in the morning ended late at night. Ji Hyeon had his hair done at the salon, stopped by a bookstore, and then spent time with Eun-ho by the Han River. The film crew, who returned home and removed the observation cameras, left with a lot of regret, leaving room for him to appear again next time.
“Next time, my foot.”
In the living room where everyone had left, Ji Hyeon frowned with a fed-up expression. Still, the filming ended early (originally, they expected an overnight shoot), but it was clear that his patience was slowly running out from around sunset. As expected of a professional, he didn’t show it at all on the outside.
“There is a next time, though. We still have the interview left.”
Based on what they filmed today, an interview was scheduled for next week. It was to film the Q&A that would be inserted like explanations in the middle of the video. Soon, the writers would draft the expected script, and then he could prepare the answers based on that.
“That’ll be quick to film at the studio, so it’s okay.”
Ji Hyeon swept back his hair, saying that he was annoyed by being followed around. It was still a bit long, but thanks to the slight trim earlier, it looked like he had put some effort into it. Eun-ho checked Ji Hyeon once, then the time once, and then pulled down the hat he had taken off.
“Anyway… you must be tired, so rest today.”
“Are you leaving?”
“I have to, it’s late.”
If he tells me to stay over again, I’ll have to tell him that I need to take the van back to the company. Thinking that, Eun-ho headed for the front door, and Ji Hyeon silently followed him. I thought he was going to see me off, which was unlike him, but the way he turned off all the lights in the house was very strange.
“…Why are you following me?”
“The cleaning service won’t come until tomorrow.”
Ji Hyeon looked straight at Eun-ho without changing his expression. When Eun-ho tilted his head as if to say, ‘So?’, he asked back in a languid voice.
“So many people came to this house today… you want me to sleep here?”
His eyes showed genuine displeasure. There might be rooms where people didn’t come and go, but it seemed like he felt bad just staying in this space. Knowing that feeling, Eun-ho checked the car keys in his pocket and nodded.
“Then should I take you to a hotel or something?”
Since the precious actor was leaving, he was naturally thinking of escorting him himself. Fortunately, there was a decent hotel nearby, so he could just check him in and go home.
However, contrary to Eun-ho’s plan, Ji Hyeon put on his shoes first and said.
“No, your place.”
“……”
Eun-ho’s mouth snapped shut. He gripped the car keys in his pocket and narrowed his brows a beat late. Then, he furrowed his thick eyebrows and asked again.
“What?”
Did I hear wrong? A guy who can’t even sleep in his own house is going to come to my house?
As Eun-ho slowly mulled it over, this time a slightly more definite request pierced his ears.
“Let me sleep over for just one night.”
Apparently, I didn’t hear wrong. Ji Hyeon, who was asking to sleep over, was brazen to the point of being shameless. When Eun-ho looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, he even leisurely curled up the corners of his mouth.
“You don’t really have anywhere to go at this hour, do you?”
“Are accommodations just for show?”
“What if I get photographed going to a place like that?”
What would happen? Eun-ho would be next to him anyway, and a photo of two men wouldn’t be a proper news story. At best, it would attract some attention with a title like ‘Ji Hyeon, visits XX Hotel. What’s going on?’.
“Don’t talk nonsense and go to a hotel. I’ll take you.”
“Why waste money on a hotel?”
“You think my house is free?”
“Then charge me for the accommodation.”
He just said that hotel fees were a waste, but he didn’t back down at all. I was going to tell him to pay as much as the hotel fee, but I couldn’t because he would really pay the money and stay for one night. Instead, Eun-ho told stories that Ji Hyeon would hate in a calm tone, as if stating facts.
“I haven’t cleaned for a few days.”
“……”
“There’s probably a lot of dust piled up on the floor.”
The effect wasn’t bad. Ji Hyeon frowned with a displeased face. Watching his fine eyebrows twitch up, Eun-ho added the last words with a sly look.
“The house smells because I haven’t aired it out, and I haven’t washed the blankets in a long time. You won’t last 5 minutes inside.”
It wasn’t an environment that a guy who was pathologically clean (although he actually had a disease) could endure. He probably felt a little sick just imagining it. Just as I was about to tell him to go to a hotel if he understood, Ji Hyeon frowned and retorted.
“Wow… as if that’s likely.”
“……”
Eun-ho narrowed his eyes, flinching. It was because of a reaction that was quite different from what he had expected. Ji Hyeon spoke in a slow, gentle tone.
“If you’re going to make an excuse, you have to make it plausible. There’s no way you wouldn’t have cleaned for a few days with your personality.”
“……Sometimes I don’t when I’m tired.”
“You haven’t had anything tiring to do lately.”
Apparently, he doesn’t think about how he’s the one who’s being tiring. Of course, Eun-ho had never been tired of Ji Hyeon himself.
“When we were in high school, everyone else smelled like sweat, but you were the only one who smelled like Fabric softener scent. What are you talking about, you were the type to take your gym clothes home and wash them after just one gym class.”
“That’s because Grandmother…”
Because Grandmother told me to, Eun-ho couldn’t say that. Aside from the fact that the behavior remained a habit, Ji Hyeon shut his mouth as soon as the word ‘Grandmother’ came out. It was absurd that he was the only one who was fine now, but he was making a face as if he had made a mistake.
“…I don’t have a bed at home.”
Reluctantly, Eun-ho decided to give in to this childish guy just one more time. It would be very, very difficult to take him home, but it was much more difficult to see him looking dejected in front of him.
“If you’re okay with it, then come.”
“I have a mattress. That’ll be enough.”
Annoyingly, he knew my household situation well. Well, it was natural since it was something that Ji Hyeon had bought for me someday. When Eun-ho sent him a dumbfounded look, Ji Hyeon folded his eyes and smiled softly. He looked so happy that Eun-ho couldn’t say anything more.
Saying that I hadn’t cleaned was a lie, but saying that Ji Hyeon wouldn’t last 5 minutes was sincere. It wasn’t because the house was dirty or smelled, but because I thought he wouldn’t be able to adapt to someone else’s space. Ji Hyeon habitually tells me to come and live in his house, but Eun-ho was sure that he wouldn’t be able to live with someone else.
However, from the moment Ji Hyeon entered the house, he easily exceeded Eun-ho’s expectations. He made an unknown expression after seeing the narrow interior, but soon pretended to be nonchalant and asked for clothes to change into and went into the bathroom. When he came out after showering, he only asked this while watching Eun-ho spreading out the bedding.
“Are you going to sleep in the living room?”
Eun-ho stopped spreading out the blanket and glanced back at Ji Hyeon. I had lent him clothes that fit me perfectly, but unfortunately, the hem of the pants was slightly raised. It wasn’t a difference that the clothes didn’t fit, but it was because Ji Hyeon was a little bigger than Eun-ho.
Well, in the first place, it was more difficult to find clothes among ready-made clothes that weren’t short on him. Eun-ho was also taller than average, but Ji Hyeon’s leg length was different.
“But why is there only one pillow?”
Ji Hyeon looked at the bedding that Eun-ho had spread out with a puzzled expression. There was only one pillow and one blanket. He seemed to find it strange that even the mattress that should be there was not visible. Of course, Eun-ho didn’t intend to leave a perfectly good bedroom and have him sleep in the living room.
“You go in and sleep. I’ve spread out a blanket in the bedroom too.”
“…You want me to sleep inside alone?”
“Yeah, there’s a mattress there.”
I had been thinking about it since I brought Ji Hyeon home. I can’t sleep under the same blanket side by side, so I’ll have him sleep inside and I’ll sleep outside. Logically, asking to sleep over for just one night doesn’t mean sleeping together nicely.
However, Ji Hyeon, who should have answered that he understood, let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded.
“Eun-ho, are you being formal with me right now?”
The corners of his mouth that were curled up were truly crooked. His voice was as soft as could be, but I could tell that he was in a bad mood. Seeing a bad sign, Eun-ho gestured to the bedroom before he could say another word.
“The room is small.”
“……”
“The mattress is even smaller.”
“……”
“If you see it yourself, you won’t say we’re being formal.”
It’s not that small, but the problem was that they were both well-built men. Putting aside what Eun-ho was thinking, it was clear that it would be a slightly ticklish picture if they lay down together. Even if they tossed and turned a little while sleeping, there would be embarrassing situations.
“…Then you should sleep inside, why are you sleeping outside?”
“How can I make you sleep in the living room?”
“This is treating me like a guest.”
Was it just my imagination? He sounded a little disappointed. Nevertheless, Eun-ho pretended not to know and just turned his gaze away. No matter how long we argued, nothing would change.
“I’m going to take a shower and come out, so go in and sleep or something. The hair dryer is under the TV, so dry your hair well. You’ll suffer if you catch a cold this season.”
Fortunately, Ji Hyeon didn’t seem to have any intention of arguing further. He was still frowning, but there was a bit of embarrassment mixed in. It was something that happened from time to time, and he seemed to feel sorry belatedly after being stubborn.
“Ji Hyeon-ah.”
“Why.”
This is why I can’t push him away. That’s why I act more firmly usually. If I accept one or two things, I’m afraid I’ll really be volunteering to be a pushover. And if that happens, Ji Hyeon will definitely blame himself.
Of course, even if I make up my mind like this, I can’t ignore the problem in front of me.
“I brought you here, but… if you feel uncomfortable later, tell me right away. It’s not like I don’t know your condition. I’ll take you to a hotel right away.”
“……”
Ji Hyeon’s expression became subtle at Eun-ho’s words. It was because he knew that it wasn’t that he didn’t want to let him sleep over, but that he was really worried. As a manager who was more concerned about his condition than anyone else, and as a friend who knew his chronic illness well. He knew how uncomfortable it would be to be in someone else’s space, in an unfamiliar place, and in clothes that didn’t fit.
“You are…”
Ji Hyeon moved his lips as if choosing his words. Inappropriately, Eun-ho thought that his shapely lips were very pretty. Of course, the words that came out of those lips were far from pretty.
“You’re making me out to be a bad person.”
It was a word that contained many emotions. I was considerate and even heard resentment, but I didn’t feel that bad. Eun-ho let out a hollow laugh as if he was hearing all sorts of things.
“You’re a bad person even without me.”
Why is he blaming others for his bad personality? Even when they first met at the age of eighteen, Ji Hyeon wasn’t exactly a nice person. If anything, he had gotten better as he got older (although he was still far from being gentle).
“If you can’t even say that…”
Ji Hyeon didn’t deny Eun-ho’s words, perhaps because he had a minimum of conscience. He just frowned annoyedly and sighed. Soon, Ji Hyeon, who met his gaze, spoke in a rather firm tone.
“You’re okay.”
“……”
“How many years have I spent with you?”
Isn’t it a bit funny? If that’s the case, he should have become close with CEO Byun too. He was closer to him in many ways than Eun-ho, who was just a friend. I wanted to ask why only I was okay, but unfortunately, Eun-ho wasn’t shameless enough to do that.
When Eun-ho came out after showering, Ji Hyeon was sitting on the spread-out blanket and watching TV. I wondered what he was watching so intently, but it was a movie that Ji Hyeon had filmed 10 years ago. It was a work set in a gambling house in Macau, and Ji Hyeon’s role was a genius boy who had grown up in a casino since childhood.
“It looks like it just started.”
Looking at the screen, it was just the scene where Ji Hyeon appeared. Ji Hyeon, with a slightly youthful face, put down the trump card on the table with a relaxed smile. Queen of Hearts, and Ace of Spades. Ji Hyeon won in just one turn. After that, similar situations were repeated several times, and the scene continued to gather chips piled up like mountains.
“I feel bad whenever I watch this movie.”
“……”
Eun-ho, who was about to say that it was fun, closed his mouth. Eun-ho secretly swallowed his words and forced himself to ask back as if nothing was wrong.
“Why?”
“It reminds me of that time.”
“There’s a lot of action, though.”
It must have been hard. He was only nineteen years old and had suffered abroad for several months. He couldn’t eat spices well, so it must have been difficult to even drink a sip of water. In fact, I remember Ji Hyeon’s face getting thinner and thinner as the movie went on.
“Well, there’s that too.”
Ji Hyeon answered insincerely while fixing his gaze on the screen. Judging by the way he was blinking his eyes slowly, he didn’t seem to be interested in the movie at all. Just as Eun-ho was about to tell him to turn on something else, a monotonous voice continued the last words.
“After filming that, a bastard who was supposed to be my friend ghosted me.”
“……”
I couldn’t ask which bastard ghosted him. From a long time ago until now, there was only one person he could call a friend.
A guy with a dirty temper. Eun-ho, who cursed inwardly, put on a calm expression.
“He must have had his reasons.”
“You don’t know anything.”
The flat voice retorted. He didn’t sneer, nor did he contain anger, but that made me more conscious of it. Ji Hyeon, who was leaning his head slowly against the wall, quietly lowered his eyes.
“That’s what really pisses me off.”
“……”
Is it because his eyelashes are long, or is it because his hair is unusually calm? Even the light reflected in his eyes looked pitiful. In the meantime, Eun-ho missed the timing to answer, and Ji Hyeon had already turned his gaze to look at Eun-ho.
“Why didn’t he contact me if he had his reasons?”
I knew. What part he was expressing his resentment about. However, he just always remained silent because he wasn’t good at talking. Of course, there was also a problem with this guy who was rehashing something that happened 10 years ago.
“……”
Instead of saying anything, Eun-ho rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. Now, Ji Hyeon in the TV was playing with casino chips in his hands. The hand technique, which is one of the highlights of the movie, was something he had practiced several times since he received the script.
“…Can you still do that?”
It was an awkward change of topic, but Ji Hyeon willingly went along with it. He said that his hands were stiff and he couldn’t do it anymore, and nonchalantly followed the gestures in the movie. The way his long fingers moved was similar to when he was sitting at his desk and practicing hard.
It was when they were in the third year of high school, more than a year after they became friends.
The school, a month before the college entrance exam, had a chaotic and disorganized atmosphere. It seemed like there would be a lot of tension, but the conversations that were going on were all about the cafeteria menu and the soccer game that would be held during lunch. Some students collapsed on their desks as soon as break time came, and Eun-ho glanced at the seat next to him while trying to memorize English words.
‘Filming a movie?’
‘Yeah.’
The student sitting next to him was none other than Ji Hyeon. Like in the second year, they were in the same class in the third year. Since they were both tall, they sat in the backmost seats, and spent two semesters as seatmates.
‘So I can’t come to school from tomorrow.’
Ji Hyeon was rolling a 500 won coin between his fingers and spoke in a nonchalant tone. The coin that started between his index and middle fingers went to between his ring and pinky fingers and then returned to its original position. It was a slow and sluggish movement, but it became more and more skillful as he repeated it.
‘You’re going through a lot.’
Since it was common for him not to come to school, Eun-ho replied without showing much surprise. In the first place, they didn’t even call attendance, so there was no need to react as if it was surprising now. Strictly speaking, it was much more absurd that he was sitting next to me like this now.
‘…I probably won’t be able to come until graduation.’
‘Is that so?’
It was understandable. It was October now, and filming a movie would take at least three months, no matter how short it was. As for the college entrance exam, Ji Hyeon wouldn’t take it anyway. There was a high possibility that he wouldn’t be able to attend the graduation ceremony in February either.
‘It can’t be helped. Be careful.’
‘…….’
Eun-ho spoke with all sincerity, but Ji Hyeon didn’t respond. He just kept his mouth shut and focused on playing with the coin.
He’s holding out for quite a while this time. Just as Eun-ho thought that, someone approached them.
‘Hyeon-ah.’
‘…….’
The coin that had been rolling smoothly fell with a thud. The coin rolled all the way to Eun-ho’s desk and fell over with a loud noise. This was the fifth time already. Eun-ho, who had been counting the number of times in his head, stared at something that was being held out to Ji Hyeon.
‘My friend told me to give this to you.’
‘……Ah.’
Ji Hyeon’s eyes followed the coin before he let out a soft exclamation. It was only for a brief moment, but Eun-ho noticed a flash of displeasure in his eyes. Of course, there was no trace of that when he looked at the student who had called him.
‘Is this for me?’
‘Yeah, she’s a fan of yours…….’
The item being held out was a small, beautifully wrapped box. As if she were the owner of the gift, the student pointed to the front door with her index finger, shyly looking at Ji Hyeon. She couldn’t come in because of the rule that ‘students from other classes are prohibited from entering,’ so she was watching from afar.
‘I appreciate the thought, but…… I get in trouble with my company if I receive too many personal gifts.’
Ji Hyeon, looking embarrassed, spoke in a very regretful voice. He also said that he was sorry but asked for understanding, as it would be a problem if there were any expensive items mixed in. Just as the student was about to say something more, Ji Hyeon gently curved his eyes and reached out towards the box.
‘So I’ll just take the letter.’
What he took was a letter envelope that was handed over with the gift. When other students had come to visit him several times before, Ji Hyeon had recited the same lines and only took the letters. At first, those who looked disappointed couldn’t help but back down at his kind smile.
‘Tell your friend I said thank you, too.’
As expected of a celebrity, he was very skilled at handling the situation. Receiving gifts, refusing them, and smiling habitually were all natural. As the student nodded and walked away, Eun-ho muttered what he had been thinking about all along.
‘There are a lot of people giving gifts today.’
It was something that happened often, but the frequency was higher today. People came to see Ji Hyeon, and not only did they come to see him, but they also gave him gifts, and all of those gifts were beautifully wrapped. It would be one thing if it were the beginning of the semester, but it was almost the end of the semester now. What was there to make such a fuss about all of a sudden?
‘I guess so.’
Ji Hyeon replied without much emotion and picked up the coin he had dropped earlier. He neatly placed the letter he had just received in a corner of his desk. As he played with his hands like before, Ji Hyeon added in an indifferent tone.
‘It’s my birthday today.’
‘……What?’
Snap, the lead of the mechanical pencil broke. It was because Eun-ho had unknowingly pressed down on the pencil. Startled, he turned to look at Ji Hyeon, who was giving him an even more dumbfounded look.
‘You didn’t know?’
‘…….’
Why would he? Unless he was told directly, how would he know when his birthday was? Of course, Ji Hyeon’s birthday would come up if you searched it on the internet, but that was about the extent of Eun-ho’s attentiveness.
‘Well, I guess you wouldn’t know. I didn’t come to school on my birthday last year.’
‘……Um.’
Eun-ho awkwardly scratched the back of his neck with the hand that wasn’t holding the pencil. It didn’t seem like he was particularly upset, but it still bothered him. While almost the entire school was celebrating, he hadn’t even said a single word of congratulations.
‘Did you eat seaweed soup?’
‘No.’
It was just something he said to change the subject. Eun-ho always ate seaweed soup that his Grandmother (Paternal) made for him on his birthday. But why did those downcast eyes linger in his mind so much?
‘I don’t usually eat that kind of stuff.’
‘…….’
For a guy, he had unnecessarily long eyelashes. His delicate features as a whole couldn’t have looked more forlorn. Ji Hyeon was just focusing on rolling the coin, but Eun-ho even put down his pencil to ask.
‘……Are you leaving early again today?’
That day, Eun-ho crossed the school fence during lunchtime for the first time in his life. Ji Hyeon, who had jumped over the fence with him, asked him why he was doing this, but he just silently headed to a fancy goods store near the school.
And at the place he arrived at, Eun-ho emptied his entire fortune to buy a necklace.
‘Why a necklace?’
It was a necklace with a capital letter on a thin silver chain. It was an initial necklace that was popular these days, and the letter Eun-ho chose was none other than ‘H.’ To Ji Hyeon, who asked why he bought this, Eun-ho held out the necklace and uttered one word.
‘Birthday present.’
He had been thinking about it all morning. What could he possibly give this picky guy? He didn’t have the confidence to write a belated letter, and he couldn’t just buy him a cultural gift certificate like he would for other guys, since the recipient was none other than Ji Hyeon.
Then, he happened to see his neck stretching straight between the collar of his shirt.
‘I thought you’d look pretty with a necklace.’
‘…….’
Instead of receiving the necklace, Ji Hyeon blinked silently. His gaze slowly shifted to the necklace in Eun-ho’s hand. He seemed a little surprised, so Eun-ho averted his gaze and made an excuse.
‘It’s too cheap, so you can throw it away if you don’t need it…….’
‘Are you crazy?’
Ji Hyeon’s sharp voice cut off Eun-ho’s words. Ji Hyeon snatched the necklace from Eun-ho and clutched it in his hand. His furrowed eyes seemed to be scolding Eun-ho.
‘Why would I throw this away?’
Anyway, he was a subtly sensitive guy. He looked at the necklace with a softened expression as if he was really sincere. He had even felt sorry for calling his cell phone junk the other day, and his actions were not at all like his prickly tone.
‘If I wear this, people will think it’s a luxury brand.’
Ji Hyeon let out a faint laugh, saying that there was a luxury brand with a similar design. It was a small change in expression that was barely visible, but it felt much better than the smile he had shown in the classroom.
For some reason, Eun-ho’s chest felt ticklish, so he put his hands in his pants pockets and casually opened his mouth.
‘Have a good time filming the movie.’
‘…….’
‘Don’t get hurt while filming action scenes.’
It was a clumsy greeting, but it was more sincere than ever. It was because he knew that Ji Hyeon sometimes came back with minor injuries after filming. Why didn’t the precious actor know how to take care of his body? He also knew that he sometimes got a lot of nagging from someone who seemed to be the President because of that.
‘……Hey.’
After a long time, Ji Hyeon barely managed to call out to Eun-ho. When Eun-ho tilted his head to tell him to speak, Ji Hyeon asked with a serious face.
‘You’re smart, right?’
‘……I guess I’m not bad?’
‘Not bad my ass.’
What kind of nonsense was the top student in the school talking about? Ji Hyeon retorted even more brazenly. Eun-ho let out a hollow laugh, wondering why he was acting up again, and Ji Hyeon added as if he were ordering him.
‘Memorize it. 010…….’
Then, he called out eleven numbers that were presumed to be a phone number. Ji Hyeon repeated it twice clearly and even told Eun-ho to say it again to make sure he had memorized it properly. After Eun-ho successfully memorized the number, he nodded with a satisfied face.
‘Contact me sometimes. I’m busy, so I can’t reply often.’
‘I don’t have a cell phone.’
‘……Damn it, you’re going to buy one after the college entrance exam, aren’t you?’
It was a number he had learned after more than a year. It was because Eun-ho didn’t have a cell phone that could make calls, and no one had bothered to ask first. It was right to say that he didn’t feel the need because he would see his face when he came to school anyway.
‘But didn’t you say you’d get in trouble if you received gifts?’
‘Of course that’s a lie. Who’s going to scold me?’
The usual small talk ended near the school. Ji Hyeon got into the car that was waiting for him and left, and Eun-ho watched his tail before climbing over the fence and returning to school. He heard that he was leaving on a plane tonight, so it would be a few months before they met again.
After returning to the classroom, Eun-ho first saved Ji Hyeon’s number on the spare phone he had put in his desk. Home, homeroom teacher, convenience store owner. The name ‘Ji Hyeon’ was added to the monotonous contacts. Why was he making him memorize it like an idiot in the 21st century when he could just save it or write it down from the beginning?
‘……The last four digits are his birthday.’
It was a number that suited his pretty face very well. The number was easy to memorize, but he wondered if a celebrity was allowed to use this kind of number.
Anyway, he was a unique guy in every way. While he was thinking that, someone called out to Eun-ho.
‘Eun-ho, the homeroom teacher wants you in the faculty room.’
At first, he thought he had been caught crossing the fence. He racked his brain trying to come up with an excuse, even as he walked to the faculty room. Still, he wouldn’t be scolded too much because of his image so far, but the expression that the homeroom teacher showed Eun-ho was different from what he expected.
‘Oh, Eun-ho…….’
He had a troubled face. He wouldn’t need to make this kind of expression just to scold Eun-ho. Moreover, even the unusual beginning that followed.
‘Don’t be surprised.’
‘…….’
Nineteen years old was not a young age to not be able to read the atmosphere. Just as Eun-ho’s expression hardened, the teacher carefully took Eun-ho’s hand. And the words that followed were a topic that Eun-ho never wanted to hear in his life.
‘Your Grandmother (Paternal)…….’
There were countless imaginations that came from anxiety, but among them, there was a premise that could not be avoided. For example, a future where the only family member left after both parents had passed away would leave his side as well. Seeing his Grandmother (Paternal), who was getting older day by day, he had a desire to become an adult quickly and a wish that time would not pass.
‘Grandmother (Paternal)!’
When he rushed to the hospital in a daze, his Grandmother (Paternal) was lying down with an oxygen mask on. The doctor told him about the situation, but he couldn’t hear anything properly. There were only two things he remembered. The sight of his Grandmother (Paternal) quietly closing her eyes and one worry that came to mind as if a stone had fallen.
‘Um, the hospital bill…….’
That was what a damn fate was like. Not even having enough money for transportation and regretting the gift he had given with such a good heart. Feeling guilty for having such regrets and even resenting the poverty he had never resented in his life. Having a sick family member in front of him and worrying about the price of the hospital room first.
After that, Eun-ho immediately increased his part-time jobs and didn’t attend school from the next day. He started working at a construction site during the day, at a PC cafe at night, and at a convenience store on weekends to raise money for his Grandmother (Paternal)’s hospital bills. He didn’t have a cell phone, and he didn’t have a guardian. No one could stop Eun-ho.
‘You know this will all be marked as unauthorized absence, right?’
The day before the college entrance exam, the always kind homeroom teacher finally came to Eun-ho’s house to scold him. Unlike his worried expression, his voice was stern, but when he saw the house without a boiler, he just let out an ambiguous sigh.
‘What are you really going to do?’
‘…….’
‘You have good grades, you shouldn’t be doing this.’
There was nothing he could say. First of all, he was ashamed, he didn’t have the time, and he didn’t have the eloquence to explain his thoughts coherently. He was ashamed that he couldn’t repay the teacher, who knew that he was having a hard time and even paid for his application fee.
‘Eun-ho, let’s take the college entrance exam first.’
He still remembered the hand that carefully took his hand. The teacher had worried about Eun-ho with a similar expression when he told him that his Grandmother (Paternal) had been taken to the hospital.
‘The teacher will take care of the absences somehow…….’
‘……I’m sorry.’
Just because he knew his heart didn’t mean his thoughts would change. Eun-ho pulled out his hand and lowered his gaze. He could only say this while kneeling properly.
‘I’ll earn money and pay back the application fee.’
Poverty has interest. If you make cheap choices that you need right away, there will come a moment when you can’t afford the interest that has gradually increased. If his elderly Grandmother (Paternal) hadn’t overworked, if she had slept in a warmer room and eaten healthier food, if she hadn’t neglected her cold because she didn’t want to waste money on medicine.
For the same reason, even if there comes a day when he regrets this moment’s choice.
‘I’m not going to college.’
Some would say it was a reckless choice, but Eun-ho at the time couldn’t help it. Even if he was accepted into college, nothing would change right away, and it would be better to work one more part-time job than to go to school. In the first place, wasn’t the reason he was going to college to take care of his Grandmother (Paternal) with his own hands someday?
‘…….’
The teacher didn’t say anything. He just spoke with a complicated face after a long time. He didn’t need to pay back the application fee, and he told him not to worry about such things, and even told him to come to him whenever he needed help, as it was okay even if it wasn’t now.
‘And the teacher did some research…….’
The documents he brought contained information related to hospital bill support for low-income families. What documents needed to be prepared, and what the scope of application was. It was even checked with a highlighter so that he could see it at a glance.
‘……Still, you’ll come to the graduation ceremony, right?’
Even to that, Eun-ho couldn’t say anything. He just thought of Ji Hyeon, who was abroad, after hearing that his friends were worried about him. He said he couldn’t come to school until graduation, so he was probably in the middle of filming a movie right now.
‘Then the teacher will go.’
He found out later that the envelope of documents that the teacher had left behind also contained a money envelope with several 50,000 won bills. A short note saying that he hoped it would be of some help was the last contact he had with the teacher. Eun-ho didn’t attend the graduation ceremony, and around the turn of the year, he went to a construction site that provided room and board.
Naturally, his relationship with Ji Hyeon ended there as well.
Sometimes, even choices that could be called mistakes had their own reasons at the time. Not thanking the teacher, not understanding the helping hand, and even dismissing the words that his friends were worried about as just empty words.
‘I’m worried you’ll disappear again.’
Yes, it wasn’t intentional. He just couldn’t find the words to say, and he was too proud to make weak noises, so he couldn’t tell them the news. But if that was also called intentional, he wouldn’t deny it.
‘Why didn’t you contact me when you had a situation?’
Wasn’t it a time in his childhood when he would rather die than lose his pride? He didn’t want to burden the guy who was busy, and he didn’t want to reveal his shabby situation. The only thing he was good at was studying, but he had become too pathetic to even do that. The rational judgment that nothing would change even if he contacted him also played a part.
‘But I didn’t know the aftermath would last this long.’
Eun-ho crossed his arms and looked at Ji Hyeon in the distance. Ji Hyeon, who had dressed up from head to toe for the first time in a long time, was sitting in front of the camera with a smile that anyone could see was a celebrity. It was to film the ‘My MaeSo’ Q&A that would be broadcast along with their daily lives.
“Hello, this is actor Ji Hyeon.”
Ji Hyeon, with his hands clasped on his legs, calmly began the interview. His recently trimmed hair was neatly styled, and the clothes he was wearing were all sponsored from head to toe. The cardigan was a D brand product worth over 5 million won, the pants that seemed ordinary at first glance were the work of a famous designer, and the shoes that wouldn’t even be visible on the screen were handmade shoes that only five pairs existed in Korea.
In contrast, Eun-ho was wearing the same clothes as usual, but his top was a little unique. It was a black T-shirt that all managers appearing on ‘My MaeSo’ had to wear, and it had ‘Ji Hyeon Manager’ written on it in large letters. The ‘My MaeSo’ filming team had given it to him as a gift as soon as he arrived at the filming site.
He looks like a celebrity.*
That handsome actor was the same guy who had begged him to let him sleep over at his house just a few days ago. He always thought it was an absurd thing. He had been watching him for several years now, but he still felt unfamiliar sometimes. He really felt that they lived in different worlds at times like this.
Well, but when it was just the two of them, he would inevitably act like a child.
‘This movie makes me feel dirty just watching it.’
That day was the same. The topic that Eun-ho awkwardly turned to led to ‘why he insisted on coming to our house.’ By that point, Ji Hyeon couldn’t make the excuse of accommodation fees, and surprisingly, he willingly told him the real reason.
‘I’ve been curious about it for a while.’
‘What?’
‘How good is your house that you haven’t moved and have been living here for years?’
‘…….’
‘It’s not like you can’t afford to move.’
This was truly a difficult situation. Ji Hyeon was the one paying him, so he couldn’t make up some ridiculous excuse about not having enough money. But telling him the real reason would only make Ji Hyeon feel down again.
‘……I just didn’t feel the need to.’
So he came up with a suitable excuse, but Ji Hyeon didn’t seem to understand. However, he didn’t press the issue, turning his gaze to the TV as if it didn’t matter. The movie Ji Hyeon had starred in was still playing on TV.
‘And you come to my place all the time, it’s weird that I’ve never been to yours.’
‘Well, that’s……’
Actor Ji was busy, and Eun-ho was just as busy. Unless something special came up, Ji Hyeon preferred to rest at home. It was only because he was on hiatus that he could sleep at home every day; normally, he spent about 200 out of 365 days at the filming location or in accommodations near the set. He barely had time to go to his own house, let alone someone else’s.
‘You worry about everything.’
Was he getting anxious about turning thirty? He’d been acting more childish lately. Come to think of it, it was a little strange that this hiatus was lasting so long. It had already been half a year, and he hadn’t even looked at the scripts that were coming in.
“I guess it’s a good thing he’s filming a variety show……”
Eun-ho muttered quietly, trying to shake off his worried thoughts. This constant overprotectiveness was a kind of obsession. That guy was a grown adult, and maybe he was just taking advantage because he kept indulging him.
“Hyung.”
While he was busy observing Ji Hyeon, someone poked Eun-ho’s shoulder. He turned around to see Yeonju, one of the stylists. Yeonju pointed to a corner of the set and said.
“Let me touch up your makeup.”
Because Yeonju was much shorter than Eun-ho, Eun-ho unintentionally sat on a chair and began to receive makeup. At first, he awkwardly bent over, but Yeonju said he’d hurt his back and brought over a folding chair. There was a reason Ji Hyeon spread his legs instead of bending over when getting his makeup done.
“……Do you really have to do this?”
“You’re going to be on TV anyway, so it’d be nice if you looked good.”
Yeonju replied casually, holding an Eyebrow Pencil in her hand. She added that she wouldn’t overdo it, and complimented him by saying he was handsome even without heavy makeup. Still, he frowned at the unfamiliar feeling, so she poked between his eyebrows with the back of the Eyebrow Pencil, telling him to relax his expression.
“And Actor Ji told me to give you a quick touch-up while he’s filming.”
“Actor Ji did?”
“Yes, yes.”
Usually, when a manager appeared on TV, the celebrity would take care of them as they saw fit, or the production team would hire a coordinator through an agency. There hadn’t been any special instructions during the previous filming, so he hadn’t even thought about it, but it seemed Ji Hyeon had given instructions to the stylists in advance.
“Actor Ji seems really caring. He’s even more handsome in person, and his manners are amazing……”
“……Um.”
Eun-ho couldn’t bring himself to deny it and just awkwardly lowered his gaze. It was clear that the stylist hadn’t had her rose-colored glasses removed yet, probably because she hadn’t been working for long. Well, other than CEO Byun and himself, Ji Hyeon was usually kind to everyone. The problem was that it was all an act, and he’d fire people without warning the moment his patience ran out.
“And he seems to care about Eun-ho Hyung a lot. We saw you filming. We heard you were friends, but we were surprised at how close you seemed.”
“Well…… we are close.”
He felt a strange feeling at the word ‘care’. He was struck by the fact that their relationship looked that way to others. Maybe it was because he was being more friendly in front of the camera, but he thought the image-making was going well.
“It’s because neither of us has any other friends.”
“Ahahaha, what’s that supposed to mean?”
He was just stating the facts, but Yeonju burst out laughing as if she’d heard a funny joke. She giggled and hit his shoulder, playfully retorting that he was good at jokes, despite his appearance.
“Are you too handsome for guys to hang out with?”
“I don’t know about Ji Hyeon…… but that’s probably not the case for me.”
“Wow, so humble too?”
It seemed this stylist laughed a lot. She kept giggling even as she trimmed around his eyebrows. He unconsciously chuckled along, and at that moment, his eyes met someone’s in the distance.
“…….”
“…….”
Ji Hyeon, who was in the middle of an interview, seemed to be looking this way. He wondered if something was wrong and was about to get up, but the gaze that had lingered for a moment returned to the camera. Must be his imagination. Eun-ho thought so and dismissed it.
It wasn’t his imagination.
“You seemed to be getting along with the new stylist.”
Ji Hyeon’s interview had ended, and they were given a short break. Eun-ho had just finished getting his hair done and was wondering if he should buy Ji Hyeon a drink. Ji Hyeon, who had finished the interview with the last question, approached Eun-ho as soon as he removed the microphone and said.
“You seemed close.”
“……Who, Yeonju?”
Surprised, he asked back, and Ji Hyeon slowly rolled his eyes. He looked like he didn’t understand for a moment, probably because he didn’t know the stylist’s name was Yeonju. Before Eun-ho could tell him to get along with her, Ji Hyeon quietly continued.
“Since when were you close enough to call her by her name? Just because she’s younger than you doesn’t mean you can speak informally to her.”
“She told me to speak comfortably first, so I did.”
Who did he think he was, treating him like he had no manners? Judging by how he acted towards CEO Byun, he was the one who lacked manners.
“She said she’d do my makeup, so I let her. You told her to, right?”
“Then you should have just gotten your makeup done. What’s so great about flirting while the person filming is standing right there?”
Ji Hyeon didn’t back down and immediately retorted. His tone was as gentle as could be, but his choice of words wasn’t. Eun-ho glanced around before lowering his voice.
“I wasn’t flirting, and I was talking about you. While we’re on the subject, you should try to remember her name. She said you were kind and had good manners.”
It happened occasionally. It hadn’t happened as much recently because it was just the two of them, but Ji Hyeon especially hated it when Eun-ho hung out with someone else. Especially when they were filming, if he did anything else, Ji Hyeon would somehow find out and say something during the break.
“I’m kind and have good manners? She must be blind.”
“Hey.”
Once he got on that track, he’d pick at everything Eun-ho said. Regardless of gender or age, the longer the conversation, the longer it took to improve his mood. It wasn’t like Eun-ho was particularly sociable either.
It was always…….
“What’s so funny about talking about me?”
Like he was jealous.
“Can’t I laugh while talking?”
“You don’t laugh often. Anyone would think you laugh a lot while talking.”
Of course, he knew that Ji Hyeon’s actions weren’t due to such a suggestive emotion. This immature guy was just sulking because he wasn’t watching him film. If you went deeper, it was just a childish way of thinking, wanting his friend not to get close to anyone else.
“This is a filming set. If you’re going to say useless things, save it for the car later.”
Just as he cut off the conversation, a staff member passed by them. Thanks to both of them having calm expressions (Ji Hyeon was even smiling slightly), they didn’t seem to notice they were arguing. Trying to lighten the mood, Eun-ho asked quite kindly.
“Did you answer the interview questions well?”
“Watch it on TV.”
“…….”
His kindness crumbled in less than 5 seconds. As Eun-ho frowned, Ji Hyeon, on the other hand, raised the corners of his mouth with a refreshed expression. His softly curving eyes were infuriating.
“So who told you to look away?”
“Manager! We’re going to start filming!”
Just in time, a voice calling Eun-ho was heard from afar. Eun-ho sighed lightly, glanced at Ji Hyeon once, and turned away. He heard Ji Hyeon’s laughter-filled voice behind him.
“Nice T-shirt.”
“…….”
He was about to say he’d give it to him if he liked it that much, but he just didn’t answer. It was clearly a teasing remark.
The feeling in front of the camera was that the lights were hotter than he thought. There was a reason Ji Hyeon, who didn’t get hot easily, occasionally fanned himself with a slightly flushed face. Also, unlike filming at Ji Hyeon’s house, there were too many people watching, and it was embarrassing because Ji Hyeon was among them.
“Let’s start with a simple self-introduction.”
PD Yoo, who was sitting cross-legged, signaled to Eun-ho. Eun-ho tried not to squint as he looked at the camera in the center. A sense of tension rose from his stomach, as if he were standing alone on a stage.
“Hello. I’m Kwak Eun-ho, Ji Hyeon’s manager.”
Fortunately, the first words flowed out smoothly. He caught Ji Hyeon’s eye for a moment, and it seemed like the guy who had been crossing his arms was curving his eyes into a round shape. It was always his role to watch, but today the roles were reversed.
“Can we start the questions?”
“Yes.”
Fortunately, the atmosphere wasn’t stiff even after the camera turned on. PD Yoo spoke kindly, and Eun-ho loosened his tense shoulders and nodded. He sat on a chair without a backrest, keeping his back straight.
“First of all, could you tell us how you came to be a manager?”
The first question was similar to the script he had received in advance. Ji Hyeon and Eun-ho had reviewed the script and agreed on what to talk about on the show. Therefore, it meant that he already knew what Ji Hyeon would answer.
‘Telling me to watch it on TV is just being mean.’
“I was in my early twenties……. My family wasn’t well-off, so I was doing various part-time jobs, and that’s when Ji Hyeon recommended it to me. I guess it suited me better than I thought, and before I knew it, I’d been doing it for 7 years.”
There were actually more stories, but he couldn’t be that honest on TV. Eun-ho rattled off the memorized answer and waited for the next question. PD Yoo asked if there was anything difficult about being a manager, and when Eun-ho said no, he moved on to the next question.
“How did you two first meet?”
“We first met when we sat next to each other in the second year of high school. I wasn’t interested in celebrities, so I didn’t recognize Ji Hyeon at first and made a lot of mistakes. His name is ‘Ji Hyeon’, but I didn’t know and called him ‘Hyeon-ah’…….”
This was also an answer that Ji Hyeon had agreed to in advance. Ji Hyeon would probably have given the same answer. But as Eun-ho continued to answer, PD Yoo’s expression became strange. He wanted to ask why, but stopping here would only result in an NG.
“……And then we naturally became friends.”
“Hmm……. So what was your first impression?”
Maybe it was just his imagination, as PD Yoo continued the questions as if nothing had happened. He had a more interested expression than before, but Ji Hyeon’s expression was different. He narrowed his eyes and stretched his mouth sullenly.
Why was he acting like that again? It wasn’t a good sign that he was upset. Nevertheless, PD Yoo smiled even more brightly at Eun-ho, who answered steadfastly, and said one thing.
“Ji Hyeon said your first meeting was in the first year.”
“…….”
He was speechless. He looked at Ji Hyeon with surprised eyes, and Ji Hyeon snorted and mouthed.
‘Who told you to look away?’
“No…….”
He first met him in the first year? The Ji Hyeon he remembered from the first year was just a figure mixed in with the crowd. Moreover, he was sitting in the crowd, so he couldn’t even tell if he was a man or a woman.
“……I think he remembers it wrong.”
It was a sincere statement, but the staff burst out laughing. Ji Hyeon also looked at Eun-ho with dumbfounded eyes. It didn’t look like he was lying at all, so Eun-ho had no choice but to ask PD Yoo.
“When did he say we first met?”
“Hey, you have to watch it on TV to find out.”
He never thought he’d hear those words again. He should have watched carefully without looking away; he was regretting it now. With Ji Hyeon wearing a triumphant expression, and the staff wearing smiles, it felt like he was being pranked by a hidden camera.
“Then I’ll continue with the questions.”
“……Yes.”
Would he tell him when the filming was over? No, there was no way that petty guy would confess so easily. It meant he had to wait quietly for at least a month, until it aired.
“Ji Hyeon calls you Darling……. ”
“…….”
While he was lost in thought, he heard an introduction that made him suddenly come to his senses. It was a question that wasn’t in the script he had received in advance. After hearing that he called him that so often, Eun-ho belatedly realized the identity of the discomfort he had felt at the time.
“……It’s been a while since he started calling me that. I cook for him a lot and we’re always together…….”
So that’s why it seemed strange that he called him Darling. He was so used to it that he didn’t realize it, but it must have sounded a bit strange to others. Come to think of it, Eun-ho’s heart had dropped the first time he heard those words.
“……Don’t friends often call each other that?”
The staff burst out laughing again. They seemed to find Eun-ho’s bewilderment funny. To find the talent to make people laugh with words at the age of twenty-nine. Eun-ho awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
“People will think you’re dating if they see you. It was obvious that Ji Hyeon liked Eun-ho a lot when you were filming.”
He knew instinctively. This was off the record. PD Yoo didn’t seem to expect an answer either, as he immediately moved on to the next question.
“How did you end up cooking for him?”
“Ji Hyeon doesn’t really like eating out…….”
He was glad he didn’t have to answer. He almost burst out laughing, but to be exact, it was closer to a sneer. At himself, who instinctively checked on Ji Hyeon at the word ‘like’, and at Ji Hyeon, who was standing there calmly without changing his expression.
“……I don’t do it often, just when I feel like it.”
He thought he had already given up everything, but he couldn’t help but feel a surge of self-deprecation. Nevertheless, it didn’t show on the outside, because he was already too used to it. The period he had spent covering it up was too long to be swayed by this emotion now.
“You two are so close that your girlfriend must be jealous. Do you have a lover?”
“No…… I don’t. A manager always has to be by the actor’s side, so I don’t have time to meet anyone. Once we start filming, the schedule is really packed, and even when we’re resting, I mostly spend time with Ji Hyeon.”
Fortunately, even though his head was complicated, the answers came out smoothly. It was because he had memorized them well in advance, as it was a sensitive question. He didn’t have time to date, so Ji Hyeon didn’t have time to date either, a 100-point answer as a manager.
“Really? I thought you’d be popular.”
PD Yoo looked genuinely surprised. Or maybe he had a mischievous expression. Thinking that Eun-ho was lying, he asked again.
“Are you really sure you don’t have anyone?”
“……Um.”
It was a question that didn’t need hesitation, but he didn’t know why he suddenly changed his mind at that moment. Half of it was spite, and the other half seemed to be frustration. Eun-ho smiled faintly and fixed his gaze on the camera as he said.
“There is someone I like.”